1998 or 2003

I am looking for feedback on whether to get a 1998 or 2003 model VFR. Both are in good shape. I am leaning towards the 98 but the 03 looks promising. The 03 is 1200 dollars more and has more mileage. Your thoughts?

Update - I have been motorcycling since 1978, first street bike was in 1984. I raced locally for about 10 years on FZR600, CBR600 and TL1000S. The last few bikes have been 2003 Aprilia Mille, 05 R1, 05 ZX12R, BMWR1150RT, all that I have left now is a trusty 05 Vstrom with aluminum panniers. I am looking to get a trusty used 'sportier' bike again. Keeping in mind that my body is not as pliable as it used to be. This rules out the ZX, CBR, YZF and GSXR models. Too cramped for a 6 foot 3, 230 pound galoot like myself.

 

I'd go for the 98 only if it is any color but red. Red bikes are slower than any other color. otstir:

 

I would negotiate for a lower price on the 03. Or keep looking.

Buying a bike is exciting, but sometimes it's better to not just jump at the first one you see.

 

98-01 is my preference but everyone has their own opinion

I'm a newbie but having owned a 2000 with 80000km (50000 mile) I have not ridden a nicer bike in 40 years. Our club has a few routes without the men in blue and it lives comfortably with the guys in the group that 'give it horns' (very hard ridden 1000 machines Blades, R1's etc) that are not very old with lowish mileage.
If you use the powerband - WOW !!!! A good set of rubber and those geared cams with a pipe to give it a bit of music she will howl: vtr2:

 

98 for sure I have a 98 and an 00 and love them both! Rode a 6th gen once and hated it in comparison.

 

You can't ask a question like that because the 5th Gen guys and 6th Gen guys are going to be biased toward what they own. How about some facts. How many miles does each bike have? What are the asking prices? What exactly is the condition of each? Do they have any extras? Do you know the history of either?

 

Go with the 5th gen non-vtec engine. It is easier to work on and the valve check/adjustment is much cheaper to have done than the 6th Gen. I love the 6th Gen looks and feel of the bike but don't care much for the VTEC which is unlike anything else I have ever felt in my 25+ years of riding bikes. If I had to describe the VTEC in one word it would be "annoying". Your opinion like others on this site may vary so make sure to ride it for yourself before making a decision.

Rollin

 

good point Stuart:
the 1998 is in great shape and only has 10k original miles asking $2200. It was a garage goat until it got to just under 6k miles then sold to a guy that had the 6000 mile service performed when he purchased it. He then rode it for 4k miles. It has a Staintune slip on exhaust, a larger windscreen, new tires. He parking lot dropped it on the left side and cracked the fairing and turn signal. I have dropped my share at full tilt speed and in my driveway. I can spot the difference in damage.

the 2003 is also in great shape, 28k miles asking $3900. Dual slip on exhaust (looks like Two Bros) and a larger windscreen. No damage.
there is another 2003, excellent shape, 24k miles, asking $3600. New set of Michelin tires, recent service, bone stock VFR. No damage.

 

With that info, I'd say definitely the 98 - assuming the cosmetics are not an issue. And having dropped many a bikes in the driveway myself, I'd bet the cosmetics are not major. At 10K miles for $2200, I don't think you could go wrong. I have a 93 and an 07 VFR but have ridden a gen 5. I have to say, I do prefer the engine characteristics of the gen 5 over my gen 6.

 

The fairing on that 98 needs to be replaced. Once you break those built in turn signals, the mounting tabs break from the upper fairing and that needs to be replaced. Also, the mounting brackets for the lower fairing and maybe the radiator is probably tweaked. Even a 0 mph drop will put a lot of damage on a VFR that you can't see easily. I know this from experience fixing my parking lot dropped '01 when I bought her.

As to which bike is better, of course the 6th gen is going to be better. It has a better chassis. Having said that, it is heavier but not that you can tell the difference when you're riding them (I owned both a 5th and 6th gen). But when you want to go faster than The Pace style riding, the 6th gen will perform better near the limits. Having said that, the 98 can perform if given the right suspension treatment. Even if you just tweak the existing suspension on the '98, it will go fast in the corners if you know what you're doing. Except the 6th gen will be better right off the bat.

As for service costs, it's a wash. Yes. The 6th gen will take longer to adjust the valves to specs because you have to remove camshaft twice if you need to make adjustments. However, you are talking 2 addtional hours of labor.

I would say given your size and weight, the '03 is probably going to work better for you because it has a stouter chassis and suspenders. If you were under 200 lbs. I would say the '98 will work as well. The 5th gens just have softer suspensions. Then, VFR's in general have limited suspension adjustments before the suspenders get too harsh. So if you're an aggressive rider the 6th gen is better.

Finally, there is the VTEC. 6th gens work their best when fitted with a Powercommander and runs a map that is NOT the OEM map. The OEM map is designed for emissions and it just neutered all 6th Gens. The '98 will run much better right off the bat. VTEC engagement is not an issue as long as the bike's starter valves are properly synchronized. The latter is a big key to VTEC smoothness. The other key is to dump the OEM fuel/ignition map for an aftermarket.

 

So you say for a guy my size- 154 ponds and 5.6 tall, the 5th gen will work better?

I am trying to figure out myself witch of the two (5th vs 6th) generations will serve me best and I have in mind reliability, gas mileage, parts... Even though the looks of the 6th gen are top notch! I know opinions are biased, but I try to find out as much as I can since I am not going to swap bikes on and on...

Thank you guys for sharing you opinions, it is a help!!!

 

Any chance you can throw a leg over the two of them? I would ask if I were you and then choose the one that makes you grin the most.

I've had two 5th gens and three 6th gens so far. I like both for different reasons but if I had to do some more track day work I would choose the 5th gen. Touring and every day riding seems to be more suited to the 6th gen but by a very thin margin and it is mostly because I like to look at it a lot. Its purdier IMHO. The headlights on the 6th gen are also amazing and luggage is still out there so you can equip it pretty easily.

Ride em if you can!

 

Thanks mate, chances to ride them are pretty slim, there are not that many around my area, I will keep my eyes open though. Riding will help a lot in making my decision, but if I will not be able to do so, could you share some of the +s and -s of each gen... surely trough your own eyes/perspective but it would help over all in getting/forming a view...

Appreciate your effort/time guys!!!!

 

I can try but of course it is just my opinion.

5th Gen
- Reliable with EFI and choke??? sort of a choke...
- Good linked brakes that work
- Cam drive that sounds so good
- Quick bike with linear power (close to 600 on track)
- Nice looking front end
- Not so nice looking rear end
- Hard to find rear sets! if you're into that kind thing
- Instrument cluster looks dated (subjective like everything)
- Charging system prone to RR failures but so is 6th gen
- Hard bags not available from Honda
- Need to raise rear ride height for ground clearance and quicker steering

6th gen
- Reliable with full EFI no choke / enrichener
- High mount exhaust (purdy) but warm RH foot sometimes
- Sweet back end and front end
- Super ERGOS I've done 800 mile day with stock saddle
- Nice sound but no gear sound
- Superior aftermarket support to 5th gen
- Honda Hard Bags still available
- Vtec can be irritating to some
- More $$$$$$ to buy

I'm riding 6th gen right now but I wouldn't hesitate to own another 5th gen or a 3rd gen for that matter.

 

I would go with 6th gen because it is the latest and lot of after market parts available. VTEC bothers some, but is a non-issue to me. If you ride mostly city, you would not be in the VTEC zone most of the time.

Either bikes, you won't go wrong.

 

Considering the large price difference

How long do you plan to keep the bike. If you plan to keep the bike for long enough to not care about the resale or recovering most of your investment when selling I would go for the 5th gen and use the price difference to buy a penske or ohlins etc rear shock and racetech treatment to the front and get it properly set up by a suspension pro. And if you have a any money left spent it on bars, grip heaters or a saddle etc.
You will have far more enjoyable bike than a stock 6th gen this way. I'd say the 5th gen motor is more reliable just because of the CCT failures on the 6th gen.
If you go for the 6th gen the extra cost of valve adjustment should not be a matter of great concern as it doesn't come up very often.

And even if its a parking lot drop , remove the fairings and give it a thorough inspection to make sure no brackets or radiator or its mount etc are bent before committing to buy.

 

Is this something new? That motor has been out for 11 years now and this is the first I've heard of a problem with CCT failures?

 

Its not a new problem. Most honda automatic CCT are prone to failure. I first heard about it when I had my Superhawk on which it usually takes out the engine head, cylinder, piston when the CCT fails. Its very common on the VTR's and CBR's. On the CBR I haven't heard of anyone having actual damage from the CCT failures. The CCT starts to rattle bad and most people replace them with a new one or a ape manual cct before it completely fails. On my f4i it started ratting at 8k miles and it was unbearable by 11k miles when I changed to a Ape version and just adjust it every 10k miles or so.

On the VFR I have heard of lot of people complaining about the CCT noise and eventually replacing them. The problem is less common on the VFR. Only one I personally saw was on a 80k miles 2002 VFR in Sacramento.

I think Honda made crappy automatic CCT in general. I even had to change the automatic timing belt tensioner on my car to a manual one from an older Honda.

Just do a google search you will come across threads discussing this issue on the 6th gen VFR. Its definitely not a reason to completely turn away from the 6th gen as it can easily be remedied by changing it for an ape unit or modifying the stock one.

here's is a thread about the CCT on VFRD: http://vfrworld.com/forums/mechanics-garage/35775-cam-chain-tensioners-advice-requested.html